Lawrence Chiu reviews the Game Doctor SF VI (GDSF6). Backup/copier.
Lawrence Chiu
file.]
A videogame cartridge copier copies videogame cartridges to ordinary
3-1/2" DS/HD floppy disks. The original cartridge is not needed to play
the game.
All videogame cartridge copiers have built-in support for battery backed-
up videogames, real time save, Gold Finger, which is a feature comparable
to Game Genie, and slow-motion modes to make games easier to play by
slowing them down. Real time save data and Gold Finger codes can be
saved to disk. On Double Pro Fighter X, real time save, Gold Finger, and
slow-motion modes are available on SNES only.
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Game Doctor SF VI (Super Nintendo) 16M min./128M max.
Abbreviated GDSF6
Parallel interface is standard equipment. DSP option is optional.
1. GDSF6 has memory capacity expandable to 128M, available right now in
this configuration. You do not send the unit back to the dealer for
memory upgrades under most circumstances, as the unit utilizes plug-in
modules. With other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X, Profighter
X Turbo, Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7, Super Wild Card DX, etc., the unit
has memory capacity expandable to only 32M and you send the unit back to
the dealer for memory upgrades.
2. GDSF6 can load multiple videogames into memory and switch between them
with the Y and X buttons at the main menu. Load your favorite videogames
into memory and play them whenever you want, without the need to re-load
from disks each time. The number of videogames the unit can load depends
on memory capacity M, and is equal to M/8. For example, a 32M unit
(M = 32) can load 4 videogames (M/8 = 32/8 = 4). With other systems such
as the Double Pro Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo, Super UFO Super Drive
Pro.7, Super Wild Card DX, etc., the unit can load only 1 videogame into
memory.
3. GDSF6 can maintain memory contents even when SNES is off. This
feature is particularly useful in conjunction with feature #2 above.
Large videogames such as Super Street Fighter II (32M, 4 disks) require a
long time to load. With other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X,
Super Wild Card DX, etc., the unit cannot maintain memory contents when
SNES is off and you re-load every time you turn the SNES on. To the Pro
Fighter X Turbo and Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7's credit, this feature is
available as standard equipment.
4. GDSF6 can copy up to M/8 (M is as defined above) videogame cartridges
without disks. The copies are maintained in memory as long as the unit
remains plugged into the power supply. Write the videogames to disks at
YOUR convenience. With other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X,
Pro Fighter X Turbo, Super Wild Card DX, etc., the unit cannot copy a
videogame cartridge without disks and you must have blank disks ready at
all times. To the Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7's credit, the unit can
copy a videogame cartridge without disks.
5. GDSF6 has superior error-handling. For example, you are copying a 32M
videogame cartridge onto 4 disks. While writing on disk #4, the unit
reports "Verify Disk Error !" No problem! Simply replace the disk with
another. With other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X, Pro
Fighter X Turbo, Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7, Super Wild Card DX, etc.,
the unit has inferior error-handling. The entire process aborts and you
have to start over with disk #1 again.
6. GDSF6 can suspend a task when working with multiple disks, perform
other operations, and resume the suspended task afterwards. For example,
you are copying a 32M videogame cartridge onto 4 disks. When prompted
for disk #4, you realize that disk #4 is not formatted. No problem!
Press the SELECT button to suspend the process. Format disk #4 and
then resume copying at disk #4. With other systems such as the Double
Pro Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo, Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7, Super
Wild Card DX, etc., the unit cannot suspend a task when working with
multiple disks, and resume afterwards. You have to start over with disk
#1 again.
7. GDSF6 can anticipate your needs and responds accordingly. Insert a
disk and turn on the SNES. The unit will load the first videogame on the
disk with no intervention on your part. It will run the first videogame
in memory if there is no disk with no intervention on your part. It will
run the videogame cartridge if there is a videogame cartridge in the
unit, no disk, and no game in memory. It is a joy to use. With other
systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo, Super UFO
Super Drive Pro.7, Super Wild Card DX, etc., the unit cannot anticipate
your needs. You have to navigate the menus.
8. GDSF6 can copy a videogame cartridge's BRAM (battery-backed-up RAM) to
its internal BRAM, so if you have a cool save game stored on a videogame
cartridge, you can transfer it to the unit's BRAM and use it with a copy
of the videogame. The unit can also copy its internal BRAM to a
videogame cartridge's BRAM. With other systems such as the Double Pro
Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo, etc., the unit cannot copy a videogame
cartridge's BRAM to its internal BRAM or vice versa. To the Super UFO
Super Drive Pro.7 and Super Wild Card DX's credit, this feature is
available as standard equipment.
9. GDSF6 can test its memory, BRAM, ROM, and disk drive for defects.
With other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo,
etc., the unit cannot test its memory, BRAM, ROM, or disk drive for
defects. To the Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7's credit, the unit can test
its memory and ROM for defects. To the Super Wild Card DX's credit, the
unit can test its memory, BRAM, and disk drive for defects.
10. GDSF6 has CD-ROM drive option. With other systems such as the Double
Pro Fighter X, Pro Fighter X Turbo, Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7, and
Super Wild Card DX, etc., this feature is not available.
11. GDSF6 has DSP option, so that DSP-enhanced videogames can be played.
With other systems such as the Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7, Super Wild
Card DX, etc., this feature is not available. To the Double Pro Fighter
X's credit, this feature is optional. To the Pro Fighter X Turbo's
credit, this feature is standard equipment.
12. GDSF6 has parallel interface. On the Super UFO Super Drive Pro.7,
this feature is not available. To the Double Pro Fighter X and Pro
Fighter X Turbo's credit, this feature is optional. To the Super Wild
Card DX's credit, this feature is standard equipment. You can transfer
videogame, BRAM, and Gold Finger code data in both directions. With
other systems such as the Double Pro Fighter X or Pro Fighter X Turbo,
you can transfer only videogame data TO the unit. To the Super Wild Card
DX's credit, you can transfer videogame, BRAM, and real time save data in
both directions.
13. GDSF6 has artificial intelligence to defeat copy-protection. The
following copy-protected videogame cartridges can be copied by the unit
without the need for a patch:
CLAY FIGHTER
DEMON'S CREST
DISNEY'S ALADDIN
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY (Yes!)
EEK! THE CAT
FINAL FIGHT 2
GREAT CIRCUS MYSTERY STARRING MICKEY & MINNIE, THE
HAMMER LOCK WRESTLING
LAMBORGHINI AMERICAN CHALLENGE
MEGA MAN X
MIDWAY NBA JAM
ROCK N' ROLL RACING
SUPER MARIO ALL-STARS
TETRIS 2
UNIRACERS
YOSHI'S SAFARI
14. GDSF6 supports 3 languages: English, Chinese, and Japanese. It
chooses filenames automatically. It can use alphanumeric (uppercase),
and space characters in filenames. A portion of the filename is fixed
and cannot be changed. The first 2 characters must be "SF" and the
eighth character must either be a space (single-part file) or A, B, C, or
D (multiple-part files): "SF_____x" where x is space, A, B, C, or D.
15. GDSF6 has disk functions:
Format Disk (720K DS/DD, 1.44M DS/HD, 1.60M DS/HD)
Delete File
Copy File (single, multiple copies)
Copy Disk (single, multiple copies)
Rename File
rev.950123
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Regards,
Lawrence Chiu Internet: ch...@crl.com
(800) 742-5784 ORDERS/CUSTOMER SERVICE (510) 799-3875 (707) 552-0841 fax
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